A professional airline pilot is a prestigious position. Although it’s a coveted position, being a pilot also comes with its own stressors. Pilots are exposed to increasing levels of stress on a regularly basis. Imagine the thought of handling a number lives in every flight. The mere pressure of caring for a number of people is a contributing factor.

Stress is the body’s biological response to adverse stimulus. It can be internal or external, but pilots experience both. Stressful situations can be anticipated or they can happen unexpectedly.

What are the sources of stress?

There are various categories of stress that most pilots have to deal with. Here are the common types of stressors:

Physical stressors — These are due to unpleasant conditions in the cockpit of the airplane. These include too much vibration, humidity, noise, or lack of oxygen.

Physiological stressors — These are disturbances in one’s physique. Physiological stressors come in the form of hunger, fatigue, or several illnesses.

Psychological stressors — Going through interpersonal problems, like the loss of a loved one, money problems, or argument with the spouse, could cause this stress.

Being a pilot in the aviation industry is a high-pressure and stressful job. Fatigue is the most common cause of pilot stress, due to their working hours. Jet lag is another strain caused by irregular working hours.

But pilots cope with stress by stress-control training. Stress management is important, but several factors vary depending on a pilot’s personality, flying time, and external sources of stress.

Pilots may hold prestigious positions in the airlines, but they suffer from different kinds of difficulties. It’s a rewarding job that comes with its own set of stressors. Then again, there is no job that is not stressful.

At OMNI Airline Training Academy, cadets are trained to handle stressful situations in the skies. Doing so will help negate risks that come with flying and ensure the safety of the airline passengers.